Apparel and Textiles at The University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin's Apparel and Textiles program starts conservatively but demonstrates something many fashion-focused degrees don't: meaningful income growth. First-year graduates earn $37,245, barely above the national median, but by year four that figure jumps to $51,006—a 37% increase that suggests graduates gain traction in an industry where entry-level positions often underpay. Within Texas, where only four schools offer this degree, UT Austin performs at the 60th percentile, effectively making it the second-best option in the state.

The debt picture is reasonable for a design-adjacent field. At $24,812, graduates carry less than seven months of their first-year salary in loans—manageable compared to many creative programs where debt can easily exceed annual earnings. The program ranks squarely average nationally in both earnings and debt, which isn't remarkable but matters less when you consider the career trajectory. By year four, that debt burden shrinks to roughly half a year's income.

For families comfortable with a slower financial start, this delivers a practical path into fashion merchandising, textile design, or retail management. The UT Austin name likely accelerates that mid-career growth, opening doors in major Texas markets like Dallas and Houston. Just understand that year one will be lean—this isn't a fast track to financial independence straight out of college.